Friday, March 11, 2011

Purple, Green and Blue

When I see the contrasting colors of purple and green together they immediately remind me of my two sons' birthstones- Amethyst and Peridot. I did not make this bread because blueberries are purple and zucchini is green, but rather because I like the two flavors baked into sweet quick breads. I've never had the two together, but I really liked it and the crumble sent it over the top. Besides having fruit and veggies baked into one thing, topped with oatmeal, actually convinced me I was eating something healthy. I printed the recipe awhile back and didn't note where I got it from. I tried googling it to find it's origin with no such luck. If this is your recipe, let me know and I'll give you proper credit.

I also wanted to share with you a little about the "secret" anniversary trip Mr. H and I took this past weekend. We spent 5 nights and 4 days in New Jersey. What the heck in is New Jersey you might be asking yourself? Well my new found miracle of a doctor is there. On Friday morning I had abdominal surgery. We didn't take this trip for romantic reasons, but because we're trying to save our family. I am 12 weeks pregnant. If you'll recall, I've had 2 second trimester pregnancy losses in 2006 and 2007. We've been trying to conceive for the past 2 years and in December it finally happened. I didn't find out til January 15th and I've been keeping a secret from you all, not because I didn't want you all to know, but because I was scared.

The procedure I had was for placement of a Trans-Abdominal Cerclage (TAC). I have an incompetent cervix, which means that my cervix gives out and dilates under the weight of a growing baby, thus causing me to go into labor too early. Generally a cerclage is a stitch that is sewn through your cervix to keep it shut. But for me, it didn't work. This cerclage (TAC) was much more invasive and I had to have my abdomen cut open to have it done. The procedure is done much like a c-section, except that the baby is still growing inside my uterus and there wasn't a stitch placed through my cervix. This time a Mersilene band was tied tightly around my cervix just beneath the uterus. As the baby grows, the weight will be supported by this band. It's a permanent fixture in my body and this baby, as well as any in the future will be delivered via cesarean.

So the title of this post suggest that I have two heavenly babies with birthstone colors of purple and green and another miracle baby on the way due in September with a birthstone of Blue Sapphire. The colors in this bread reminds me all 3 of them. The TAC is 98-99% successful so we are optimistically hopeful that we will bringing a live baby home with us in a few months. We've waiting this for this for years and our time has finally come. That's also part of the reason that I've been so quiet lately. I really was sick for a while there, but the rest was from lack of appetite and energy. I am recovering at home now and will be for the next few weeks, but I promise to keep you all updated as I learn about the status of our growing and thriving baby. In the meantime, we are doing just fine and taking it one day at a time. I thank you all for the support you've shown me and I ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We know that we are not in the clear and I certainly do not take this pregnancy for granted. If anything, I realize how precious life really is because of the loss of our boys. I just want this time to be different.

To make the topping: In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and oatmeal. Using your fingers, blend the butter into the other ingredients until well mixed. Mixture will be crumbly but should stick together in clumps when you squeeze it. Set aside.

To make the bread: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9"x5" loaf pan. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until slightly foamy. Add the oil, sugar and vanilla to the beaten eggs, and mix til well blended. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until well incorporated, but do not overmix.

Using a spatula, fold in the grated zucchini and blueberries. Stir by hand until thoroughly combined but try and not break up the blueberries.

Sprinkle a 1/3 of the crumble mixture into the bottom of the greased and floured loaf pan. Carefully pour the batter into the pan and evenly sprinkle the remaining crumble topping over the batter. It's okay to have some some larger pieces of crumble on top of the bread.

Place the pan into a preheated oven and bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes in pan before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

And now for the winners of the Frame By Frame Baking Cookbook Giveaway!

MONICA!!! I'M CRYING OVER HERE!! I'm so excited for you!! Call me or I'll call you!! CONGRATULATIONS YOU TWO!! I'm so freaking excited. You two are going to be FANTASTIC parents. I will pray for you every single day.

Many congratulations to you and Mr H. Sending you my warmest well wishes and thoughts. The cake looks delicious and very symbolic to you. I wouldn't have thought of using courgette and blueberries together.Take care

I KNEW it, I knew it, I knew it!!!!! I had a feeling awhile back when you were sick.

OMGosh I am so stinking happy for you guys!!!

You know...way back I told you my kids were praying for you in their nightly prayers..." "and please let Monica have a baby" is what they always say at the end with no prompting from me. (I told them your whole story awhile back)Well I just told them and their eyes lit up!!

Even I was thinking a few months ago "Seriously Big Guy...can't you just cut them a break!!"

New Jersey! That's next door to me!! Had I known it I would have dropped you and Mr H off a treat!!!

Monica, wew will be praying extra hard! Be well, and stay rested, after all "cooking" a baby really is the most amazing thing ever....better than any dish, cake or cookie that one can dream up!

HUGS!!!!!

PS so funny I was writing a post about you and one of your dishes yesterday and just came here this morning for the link and wham...what a surprise!!!!

Congratulations! An online friend of mine had 2 miscarriages, 2 stillbirths, and a micro-preemie(25 weeks) due to an incompetent cervix. She had the transabdominal cerclage done for her last pregnancy and carried her baby an amazing 36 weeks!

Monica, I want this time to be different for you too!!! Such a wonderful post and I am going to send positive vibes and thoughts your way for the next few months!!!! I will be thinking of you!! Congratulations!!!

This is Mel from Pa. I emailed you a month ago and you helped me with the delicious chicken recipe. I have never met you, but I am so happy for you. I check your cooking blog daily and love your recipes. Please rest and take care of yourself. Congratulations. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I've been following you for a good while now and love watching you cook from afar. And the ones I've made we've LOVED...seriously the only waffles my husband wants now are the bacon brown sugar ones from you!

And I just got all choked up reading your story. I will keep you in my prayers and hope that all continues to go well for you and for your sweet little one!

Monica, thank u for your wonderful blog & recipes. I live just down the road from u in Austin & I will be praying for u, your baby, & your husband. I am very thankful that u found someone to help u carry your precious cargo! God bless all of you!!!

I am so happy for you and will definitely keep you in my prayers. The bread sounds wonderful and I will be making it soon. My SIL had to have a Cerclage a few times but it worked only once, but it was not the kind you had. This sounds greatly improved! Congratulations and many prayers.

Oh Monica, what wonderful, wonderful, JOYFUL news about the baby! I am so happy for all of you! Please take care of yourself during your pregnancy, sweetie! Thanks for letting us know this great news! Also, I'm loving all of those blueberries in this recipe! Gotta be good for us too, huh with all those antioxidents!

Oh, thank God! Keeping this under wraps was hard for me, and I was waiting for you to share this wonderful news! I'm so glad you explained the surgery, so I could better understand it. You know how excited I am for you and Mr. H. So, what's mommy craving, these days? I'm baking a cake, right now and using the Cappuccino chips you gave me. I had forgotten all about them...I'm excited to post it!(Pssst, it has chocolate and coffee together, uh-huh). I've missed not being on blogs, so I came to yours first. Wheee! so happy for you!

Such HAPPY, HAPPY news Monica!!! I have been wondering how you've been doing for I haven't seen you as often via blogging (yes, I keep an eye out for you Darling!). I gasped with excitement and happiness for you and Mr. H when I read through your post....amazing! I will hold you both in my thoughts and prayers. Goodness is this ever so exciting!!!! xoxo :-)

I'm jumping up and down with excitement at your news!! Many prayers and warm wishes are coming your way. Are you going to have to stay off your feet too? I know you'll do whatever it takes, even if it involves hanging upside down like a bat for 9 months ;) The bread sounds great too :)

As someone who just recently gave birth to my own miracle IVF baby, know that I will be praying extra hard for you and your little one! And as a fellow Texan, you know that my prayers have a shorter distance to travel before getting to heaven! :)

Oh my goodness Monica I am thrilled for you! Such great, happy news! I wish I knew you'd be in NJ, I could have brought you something tasty to help you heal :) So happy for you and your husband. I will pray for you and your little one and those that you lost.

OK, a day late here.First, that zucchini blueberry bread looks absolutely amazing.But more importantly, WOOHOOO!!! I've been quietly following your blog for quite a while, and have seen you celebrating your sons birthday's, and this is just so exciting! I pray for a healthy, LONG pregnancy for you! :)

OMG! YEAH! I totally understand that you waited to share, am so happy for you and your family :) You know in Jan and Feb you had been on my mind a few times and began to pray for you! Wow, I love it when that happens (it tends to happen a lot...thank you Holy Spirit for guidance!) Well now I will continue, for your health and babies. The surgery and all your Dr's trips, research...etc...will be well worth it and I am sure you already agree. You have a whole lot of people hoping and praying just from your blogs, wonderful to have :)

WOW!! Isn't it incredible what modern medicine can do for us... I had the opposite issue, my cervix never releases, so I would never labour - two c-sections later, and two beautiful babies!Congratulations on your miracle growing inside you and thank God for the world we live in!!Blessings,Lisa

Oh, Monica!!! Just got your comment on my blog - and was thrilled beyond belief!!! I am so excited for you! What an answered prayer!!!! I will definitely be praying for you and the baby! I also promise to do better about getting back on this computer and keeping in touch with you! All my love and prayers, Kathy <3

Yay Monica! I'm so excited for you guys. I hadn't noticed that your blog had been quieter than usual, but that's because I'm 17 weeks pregnant and food is still not back to being my friend! I'm so glad you're starting to feel better. Hopefully you'll get your love of food back soon too!

I have goose bumps right now reading your post. It was a couple of months ago that I couldn't sleep one night and I vividly remember laying in bed and praying for you. I prayed for a sibling for your two boys and for a healthy pregnancy to term. I am so so excited for you and your family! I will keep you and this sweet baby in my prayers. You are an amazing mother already! This post just made my day :)

Monica, I haven't had a chance to catch up on your blog in awhile, but I am so very very excited for you!!! I will keep you, your husband, and your little one in my thoughts in the coming months!!!! Best wishes!

Oh Monica...I'm a blubbering mess over here. I read the other post first and didn't realize what your "vacation" actually entailed. You are such an amazing, inspiring woman and yes, your whole family will be in my prayers.

SO happy and excited for you! I am so glad you've found a wonderful doctor. The success rates of the surgery sound extremely promising. I wish you only the best and send lots of hugs and positive thoughts your way!!! <3

Monica, I just read your post about your pregnancy and losses of your other babies. My sister has gone through the exact same thing. And I will have you know, she now has TWO beautiful little boys that she was able to carry to full term. Ages 4 and 2! : ) I am sending you lots of love and prayers your way. God bless, and take care! You have alot of people that care about you : )

Monica, I am so glad that you're back!!! I was getting pretty worried, but thought that it would be best not to pry. Hope all things are going well with you and that everyone is healthy!!! Hugs, Roz PS: Thank you for all of the sweet comments that you left today! You really are doing some catching up!

Hello Monica, I´m just trying to bake your Blueberry Zucchini Crumble Bread in Germany with german weights. Could it be, that you meant 1 1/2 CUPS Butter instead of 1 1/2 Tbsp. Butter for the Crumbles?

There isn't very much butter in the crumble itself. The butter is minimal because it's just used as a binder to keep the flour and sugar together. The correct amount is 1 1/2 tablespoons, which is about 3/4 oz. of butter. Hope that helps.

Forget the recipe...I can't believe I didn't know this! I saw the word pregnant and didn't even read about the bread (although it does look good)! I am so, so, happy for you. I understand that scared part...after taking 9 years to get pregnant, I didn't want to tell anyone either. That sounds like quite a procedure, but I am certainly glad it is available for you.

This is such wonderful news and you, hubby and baby will be in my prayers. Woo Hoo!

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Welcome To My Blog

My name is Monica and I'm a stay at home mom living in central Texas. I like to cook, but baking is my passion. I am an (obsessive) collector of cake stands, cookbooks and bakeware. I make lots of yummy treats and often share my sweet creations with friends, family and anyone else who is willing to be my guinea pig. I have lots of recipes in the archives so I hope you'll stick around for awhile!

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